Turkey that played chicken with NJ Turnpike traffic and taunted toll collectors is captured

Wild turkey on NJ Turnpike captured

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — A wild turkey that has been playing chicken along the New Jersey Turnpike won’t have to dodge Thanksgiving traffic.

State Fish and Wildlife officials netted the bird Wednesday after failed attempts during the weekend.

The turkey has been trotting around toll booths at the 14B interchange in Jersey City since August.

Toll collectors began putting road construction cones on their parked cars to prevent the turkey from jumping onto their vehicles. They named the bird “Tammy the Turnpike Turkey”

Turnpike officials decided to remove the turkey because complaints from drivers intensified.

Turnpike spokesman Joe Orlando says the bird will not end up on a Thanksgiving table. It will go to live at the Popcorn Zoo in Lacey Township.